About Cat Tien National Park
Cat Tien National Park is a large lowland tropical forest national park spanning Dong Nai, Lam Dong and Binh Phuoc provinces, with its main headquarters and visitor entrance in Nam Cat Tien, Tan Phu District, Dong Nai Province, about 150 km northeast of Ho Chi Minh City. Established in 1992 and designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2001, it protects one of Vietnam's largest remaining lowland rainforests, the Dong Nai River floodplain, Bau Sau wetland and diverse wildlife including gibbons, elephants and over 300 bird species.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect a vast lowland rainforest bisected by the Dong Nai River, with dense evergreen forest, wetlands, and grasslands. The park offers a visitor centre, museum, marked trekking and cycling trails, river ferry crossing to the park headquarters, and guided excursions to Bau Sau (Crocodile Lake), primate rehabilitation islands, and birdwatching hides. Accommodation and restaurants are available inside the park, and most exploration is by foot, bicycle or boat with a guide.
Key highlights
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One of Vietnam's largest remaining lowland tropical rainforests and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2001
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Bau Sau (Crocodile Lake) wetland - Ramsar site with Siamese crocodiles and water birds
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Habitat for over 1,700 animal species including yellow-cheeked gibbons, Asian elephants and 300+ bird species
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Dong Nai River landscape with boat trips, ferry crossing and riverside trails
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Primate rescue centre and bear rescue area for gibbons and other rehabilitated wildlife
- 06
Cat Tien Archaeological Site with relics of an ancient civilization dating from 4th to 9th century
History of Cat Tien National Park
The park was established in 1992 by merging Nam Cat Tien National Park and Tay Cat Tien National Park, and Cat Loc Rhinoceros Reserve was added in 1998. It was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2001 and Bau Sau wetland was recognized as a Ramsar site in 2005. The area also contains the Cat Tien Archaeological Site, with Hindu-influenced relics dated between the 4th and 9th centuries.
Culture & Context
The park area is traditionally inhabited by Ma and Stieng ethnic groups, with nearby villages such as Ta Lai maintaining traditional crafts and cultural practices. The park supports community-based tourism and conservation education programs.